UMass Amherst: McGuirk Alumni Stadium (Expansion)

Designed in the early
1960s by Gordon Bunshaft of
SOM, the McGuirk Alumni
Stadium at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst has been home to Minutemen
Football for more than 60 years. Completed
in 2014 by Perkins+Will’s Boston office, in
collaboration with HOK, the Football Performance
Center and Press Box support the
team’s transition from the NCAA Division I
Football Championship Subdivision to the
NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
and an enhanced game day experience.

The Football Performance Center has
become the new face of the stadium, allowing
approaching students, players and
fans to see into and through the building
to the stadium. Upon entering the lobby,
visitors, fans, players and coaches are
immersed in the rich history, traditions
and successes of Minutemen Football.
Overlooking the field from the north end
zone, the upper floor includes a 120-seat
auditorium, player’s lounge, hall of fame,
multipurpose function room, reception
area and football team administration
area. The multipurpose function room,
with expansive views of the field and stadium,
opens up to an entertainment terrace
for an enhanced game-day experience for
fans and members of the Grid Iron Club.

The building is designed to be flexible
and efficient to maximize the time and energy
of players and coaches. The ground floor,
or “players’ floor,” includes a state-of-the-art
strength and conditioning center, sports
medicine and training suite, team and coach
locker rooms and equipment storage.

The new press box replaces the original
facility built in 1964. The new facility includes
a president’s suite, athletic director
suite, home team and visiting team suites,
areas for TV and radio talent, game day
operations, coaches’ booths, instant replay
and a 50-seat working press area.

The project has transformed and
revitalized the original 1960s McGuirk
Alumni Stadium and surrounding campus
open space to create a vibrant and
active area for campus life and intercollegiate
athletics.

This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of College Planning & Management.